Chinese Food Guides
Guides
Plain explanations of the dishes on a Chinese menu, and practical help with ordering.
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Beef, Chicken, Pork or Seafood: How to Choose Your Chinese Entrée
Four sections, the same cooking styles, very different results. A practical guide to choosing a protein rather than defaulting to whatever you ordered last time.
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Szechuan vs Hunan: What Those Words Mean on a Chinese Menu
The words that tell you a dish will be spicy before you order it — and what kind of heat each one actually delivers.
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Chow Mein vs Chop Suey: What’s the Difference?
These two sit next to each other on the menu and are routinely confused. One is built on noodles, the other on rice, and that changes…
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Mongolian Beef vs Beef and Broccoli: Which Should You Order?
The two beef dishes people hesitate between most. One is sweeter and richer, the other is savoury and comes with a vegetable already on the plate.
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Chinese Lunch Specials in Orlando: How They Work
The midday combination plate is the best value on most Chinese menus, and the most misunderstood. Here is how the lunch window actually works.
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Chinese Food for Beginners: What to Order First
Chinese takeout menus are long, and the section names assume you already know what they mean. Here is how to read one and what to order…
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How Much Chinese Food Should You Order Per Person?
The most common takeout mistake is ordering one entrée per person and ending up with far too much. Here is how to size an order properly.
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Chinese Soups Explained: Wonton, Egg Drop and Hot & Sour
Three soups appear on almost every Chinese takeout menu and they are not interchangeable. Here is what separates them and how to choose.
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What Is Mei Fun? A Guide to Chinese Rice Noodles
The thinnest noodle on the menu, and the one most people skip because they are not sure what it is. A short guide to mei fun…
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Fried Rice vs Lo Mein: Which Should You Order?
The most common fork in the road on a Chinese takeout menu. Here is how to decide between fried rice and lo mein based on how…